LSU Tigers: Early enrollees fans must watch for in spring football practices

The LSU Tigers football team has 13 early-enrollees in their 2023 freshman class, suiting up for spring practices. Let’s take a look at who’s on campus and looking to make an early impression in camp.

LSU Tigers fans must get excited about the spring debut of 4-star quarterback Rickie Collins of Baton Rouge. The hometown kid steps in to fill the void left by Walker Howard after starring at Woodlawn HS. But of course, Howard entered the transfer portal after one season at LSU and transferred to Ole Miss in January. Regardless, Collins is the new QB of the future in Baton Rouge and looks good, wearing the no. 10 on LSU’s practice field.

On defense, edge rushers Da’Shawn Womack and Jaxon Howard add to a defensive line group that lost Ali Gaye, BJ Ojulari, and Jaquelin Roy to the NFL Draft. Barring injury, both LSU Tigers freshmen will see some playing time during their first seasons in Baton Rouge. Fans must look for Womack wearing the no. 49 and Howard in jersey no. 11 this spring.

Another Louisiana native, running back Trey Holly, is also getting some early work at spring camp. Holly’s reps are higher than the true freshman usual because Armoni Goodwin and Josh Williams are out with knee injuries. Also, 5th-year senior running back John Emery Jr. was absent from the first day of camp because of work related to his degree completion.

Holly, sophomore Malachi Lane, and senior Noah Cain were the only active RBs on the field for the first LSU Tigers 2023 practice.

Safety’s Javien Toviano and Ryan Yaites are 4-star recruits from Arlington and Denton, Texas. Toviano and Yaites join a safety room that seniors Greg Brooks Jr., Joe Foucha, and redshirt sophomore Sage Ryan lead. New blood is needed because, collectively, the incumbents appeared in 10-plus games in 2022.

Receiver Jalen Brown joins Toviano and Womack as one of the top 100 players on the LSU Tigers campus in the spring. Such is needed because the Tigers’ receivers room lost two of their top four receiving leaders from 2022, Jaray Jenkins and Kayshon Boutte. Brown will have to battle for playing time as LSU returns receiving leader Malik Nabers, Kyren Lacy, and Brian Thomas Jr.

The Bayou Bengals also added receivers Aaron Anderson (Alabama transfer) and 4-star Baton Rouge native Shelton Sampson.

One of Brian Kelly’s priorities upon accepting the LSU Tigers head coach position was to expand the recruiting area. Suffice it to say; Kelly is doing a great job thus far. Diversity is a theme around spring practices in Baton Rouge. Such is due to the four early enrollees outside the Tigers’ recruiting footprint, including Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio, and Nevada.

The LSU Tigers 2023 early enrollee class contains one 5-star, nine 4-star, and three 3-star recruits based on 247 sports rankings.